Ditcher



Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,282 v B. c. CLUTTER DITCHER Filed Sept. 4. 1926 I N VEN TOR.

5M0 C (Zurrr:

Airman/En Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

IBIRD C. CLUTTER, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 CLUTTER- WAGNER, INC., A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

DIICHER.

Application fi led. September 4, 1926. Serial No. 133,712.

This invention relates to excavators and particularly to ditchers.

The general practice in the past has been to connect the ditcher scoop rigidly to the dipper stick. This construction is not satisfactory in that on a forward and upward movement of the scoop, in which direction the major portion of the ditching operation is performed. the heel of the scoop drags upon the earth in such a way as to prevent the teeth thereof from sinking the scoop in 1 the soil to remove a full load.

The general purpose of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive device for connecting the ditcher scoop to the dipper stick, whereby the scoop may be eflt'ectively .operated forwardly and upwardly out of a. ditch to remove a full load; of earth therefrom.

Particularly the invention contemplates a construction in which the scoop is yields ingly pivoted to the dipper stick whereby the heel of the scoop will yield under engagement with the earth and permit the teeth on the scoop to enter into the earthand remove a full load therefrom when the scoop is operated forwardly and upwardly.

The foregoing and other objects are obtained by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. It is tobe understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific form thereof shown and described.

' Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the front end of an excavating apparatus provided with a ditcher embodying the invention; and

Figure is an enlarged side elevation showing the ditcher scoop of the invention operating forwardly and upwardly out of a ditch in the usual. ditching operation.

Referring to the drawings, indicates the excavator apparatus which may be of any suitable type and on which may be p1v otcd the boom 11 of the ditcher, the pivot in the form of excavator shown being fixed at 12. Boom lthas pivoted on its outer end the dipper stick- 13 which has a scoop 11 yieldingly pivoted thereto as will be. explained. V.

According to the preferred form of the invention, the scoop 14'is pivoted on its opposite sides as at 15 adjacent its mouth and has connected to its back end a link 16 yieldingly connected to dipper stick 13 by being extended through an apertured lug 17 thereon and being provided with a nut 18 adjnstable on its end and a compression spring 19 arranged between the lug 17 and a second nut 20 adjustable along the link. The above parts are preferably so arranged as to hold the scoop 14 parallel to the ground-when the dipper stick 13 is perpen dicular thereto (Figure 1).

Crowding of the scoop 1-1 may be effected by a. cable 21 connected to the scoop and wound upon a reduction drum 22 operable by a cable 23 from the source of power on the excavator (not shown) and pulling back of the scoop may be accomplished by a lever 25 connected to the dipper stick 13 and having a cable 26 connected thereto and ex tending about sheaves 27 andQS and to the source of power (not shown).

The scoop 14 may be of the bottom opening or other type, the trip mechanism 29 thereon being controlled from the operators position on the excavator by means of a. trip line 30.

In performing a ditching operation, as the scoop 14 is operated forwardly and upwardly as illustrated in Figure :2. the heel 31. of the scoop tends to ride upon the earth and hold the teeth 32 of the scoop up. in such a way as to prevent the scoop collecting a tull load. Due, however, to the yielding of spring 19, the dipper stick 13 may be so operated as to incline the bucket properly to find its way into the earth as illustrated and .thusobtain a full load.

It will appear from the foregoing that by the exceedingly simple, inexpensive improvement set forth. the ditcher is capable 'of ditching at a much greater rate. It will boom, a dipper st-ick pivoted on the bpom,v

a scoop pivoted adjacent its forward end upon the-dipper stick, a link having a'pivotalconnection with the scoop -ad ac.ent its rear end. an a )erturcd. lug on the dipper stick. said link extending through said lag and having nuts adjustable thereon on opposite sides of the lug. and a compression spring operable between the lug and one of the nuts normally urging the rear end of the scoop downwardly, the other nut limiting such action so as normally to hold the scoop substantially at right angles to the dipper stick.

2. In an excavator, a ditcher including a boom, a dipper stick pivoted on the boom, a scoop pivoted adjacent its forward end upon the dipper stick, and a link having a pivotal connection with the scoop adjacent its rear end, said link having a yielding connection with the dipper stick such as normally to hold the scoop at right angles to the dipper stick but permitting the rear end of the scoop to yield upwardly from such position.

3. In an excavator, a ditcher including a boom, a dipper stick pivoted on the boom. a scoop pivoted adjacent its forward end upon the dipper stick, and a yielding connection between the rear end of the scoop and the stick for permitting the rear end of the scoop to yield upwardly.

at. In an excavator, a ditcher including a boom, a dipper stick pivoted on the boom, a scoop pivoted upon the dipper stick, and a yielding connection between the scoop and the stick for permitting the rear end of the scoop to yield upwardly.

In excavating apparatus, a ditcber comprising" a boomva dipper stick on the boom, and a scoop on the dipper stick, said scoop being connected to the stick so as to be normally substantially at right angles thereto, but capable of yielding to greater angles with respect thereto under action of the scoop upon the earth, and resilient means for resisting yielding movement of the p B. o. CLUTTER. 

